Congratulations! Getting into university is a huge milestone. You deserve to feel proud of how far you’ve come. It’s also completely normal if your excitement is mixed with nerves — especially when that first bill shows up in your inbox. The important part is this: you’re not alone, and there are so many ways to make your golden dream of a university education more affordable.
1. Free money: Scholarships, grants, & bursaries
Did you know: there’s a lot of financial support out there, and much of it you never have to pay back? Scholarships recognize achievements like strong grades, leadership, athletics and community involvement. Grants and bursaries focus more on financial need and can help cover everything from tuition to textbooks to living costs. To find the right awards for YOU, start by identifying your strengths, interests and personal story.
Submitting an OUAC application to Wilfrid Laurier University automatically puts you in the running for entrance scholarships. No extra applications are required — just your admission average as of July 2026. Whether you qualify for an automatic scholarship or not, there are still plenty of competitive awards and bursaries available every year that you can apply for directly.
Key things to remember:
- You don’t pay back scholarships, grants, or bursaries.
- Entrance scholarships are automatically assessed when you apply.
- Competitive scholarships and bursaries require separate applications.
- Many awards can be combined ("stacked") to reduce your total cost.
2. Government support: OSAP loans & grants
Many students underestimate how much government aid they qualify for. Programs like the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) combine loans (which you repay later) with grants (which you keep). The amount you receive depends on family income, tuition, living costs and more.
A lot of students don’t realize that you can accept the grant portion only and decline the loan. If you do take the loan, financial planners recommend placing the full amount — often released at the start of each semester — into a high-interest savings account and paying yourself a monthly "paycheque" to stay on budget.
Quick tips:
- Always apply for OSAP even if you think you won’t qualify.
- Grants = free money. Loans = repaid later. You can take one or both.
- You have a 6-month grace period after you stop full-time studies before paying back OSAP.
- Use a high-interest savings account to manage loan funds more effectively.
- Federal and provincial aid is accessed through a single application.
3. Beyond campus: Extra funding sources
Your financial support options don’t end at government programs and university awards. A whole world of external scholarships exists — many of which go unclaimed every year (!). Financial databases let you filter scholarships based on your program, background, extracurriculars and more.
Workplaces can help too — both yours and your parents’. Many employers offer scholarship programs that students never think to ask about.
Where to start looking:
You’ve got this – explore scholarships, bursaries, and financial support at Laurier
Yes, university is an investment, but it’s one you can afford with the right tools, support and planning. Your acceptance letter is proof that you belong here, and financial support exists to help you stay here. Laurier’s money management program can teach you some financial basics and provide important tools to help you make informed decisions on your student financial journey. You can also connect with a coach to start a plan and meet you — wherever you’re at financially.
Take a deep breath, explore your options, and move forward with confidence — your future is golden, and you deserve every part of it.
Explore Laurier's financial assistance